Mystery
Fry & Laurie Lyrics


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Mystery
All my life has been a mystery
You and I were never, ever meant to be
It's why I call my love for you a mystery

Different country
You and I have always lived in a different country
And I know that airline tickets don't grow on a tree
So what kept us apart is plain for me to see

That much, at least, is not really a mystery

Estuary
I live in a houseboat on an estuary
Which is handy for my work with the port authority
But I know you would have found it insanitary

Insanitary

Hated me
I'd be foolish to ignore the possibility
That if we ever actually met
You might have taken a really violent dislike to me
Still, that's not the only problem that I can see

Dead since 1993
You been dead now... wait a minute, let me see
14 years come next January
As a human being you are history

So why do I still long for you
Why is my love so strong for you
Why did I write this song for you
Well, I guess it's just a mystery

It's just a mystery





Mystery

Overall Meaning

The song "Mystery" by Fry & Laurie is a humorous yet melancholic exploration of unrequited love. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been in love with someone for their entire life but due to various circumstances, they were never meant to be together. The first verse establishes that the love is a mystery and that it was never meant to be. The second verse suggests that the two people live in different countries, making it difficult for them to be together, and hints that the object of the singer's affection might have hated them if they had ever met. The third verse adds a twist by revealing that the singer's love interest has been dead since 1993, but the love still persists despite this fact.


The overall tone of the song is bittersweet, as the singer expresses his genuine, albeit hopeless, love for someone who is no longer alive. The lyrics are tinged with irony and self-deprecation, as the singer acknowledges the absurdity and futility of his feelings. However, the song is also a testament to the enduring power of love, even in the face of impossible odds and long-term absence.


Line by Line Meaning

All my life has been a mystery
Throughout my life, I have been surrounded by various inexplicable occurrences


You and I were never, ever meant to be
It seems that we were never destined to be together


It's why I call my love for you a mystery
This is the reason why my affection towards you is perplexing to me


You and I have always lived in a different country
It appears that we have always resided in geographically distant locations


And I know that airline tickets don't grow on a tree
I'm well aware that plane tickets are not easily obtainable or affordable


So what kept us apart is plain for me to see
The reason for our separation seems quite evident to me


That much, at least, is not really a mystery
At least that particular aspect of our relationship is not baffling to me


I live in a houseboat on an estuary
I currently reside on a boat that is docked on a body of water where the tide meets a river


Which is handy for my work with the port authority
It's quite convenient for me since I work with an organization that deals with the operations and regulations of ports


But I know you would have found it insanitary
However, I'm aware that the living conditions on my boat might have been deemed unhygienic by you


I'd be foolish to ignore the possibility
It would be unwise of me to disregard the fact that this is a potential scenario


That if we ever actually met
If we were to come face-to-face in person


You might have taken a really violent dislike to me
You might have harbored an intense animosity towards me


Still, that's not the only problem that I can see
However, that's not the sole challenge that we would likely encounter


You been dead now... wait a minute, let me see
As a matter of fact, you have already passed away... hmm, let me double-check


14 years come next January
It will have been fourteen years since your passing by the time January arrives


As a human being you are history
You are no longer alive, and therefore are part of the past


So why do I still long for you
Despite the above-mentioned facts, why do I continue to yearn for you?


Why is my love so strong for you
What is the reason for the persistence and intensity of my love for you?


Why did I write this song for you
What motivated me to compose this song in honor of you?


Well, I guess it's just a mystery
In the end, I suppose it's just an unsolved puzzle


It's just a mystery
Indeed, it remains a mystery




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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@eucherenkov

Mystery
All my life has been a mystery
You and I were never ever meant to be
That's why I call my love for you
A mystery

Different country
You and I have always lived
In a different country
And I know that airline tickets don't grow
On a tree
So what kept us apart is plain for me to see
That much at least
Is not really a mystery

Estuary
I live in a houseboat on an estuary
Which is handy for my work
With the Thames Water Authority
But I know you would have found it
Insanitary
Insanitary

Taken a violent dislike to me
I'd be foolish to ignore the possibility
That if we'd ever actually met
You might have hated me
Still that's not the only problem that I can see

Dead since 1973
You've been dead now
Wait a minute let me see
15 years
Come next January
As a human being you are history

So why do I still long for you
Why is my love so strong for you
Why did I write this song for you
Well I guess it's just a mystery
Just a mystery
Mystery



All comments from YouTube:

@Qaqaq

Thanks to this song, I giggle every time I hear the word "estuary".

@Nitromethanification

And how often do you come across that word in daily discourse?

@eme.261

@@Nitromethanification -- Aren't you assuming that this person's life is similar to yours? You not having reason to say the word often doesn't mean others wouldn't. Y'know, narcissism usually leads to intellectual laziness; neither are admirable characteristics.

@oldm9228

And I google every time I hear the word

@joshchaikin

@@Nitromethanification I came across the word "estuary" today, haven't thought about this song in over a decade...and here I am.

@thomasdjonesn

Same, without a doubt. There's a street near me named "Estuary," so it goes through my head about twice a week.

10 More Replies...

@AKoboldsAdventures

This year you can replace 15 years with 50 years and keep the flow of the song

@AxmxZ

I was just thinking the same thing!!

@lavendermagic84

Laurie: plays beautiful piano intro
Also Laurie: "Miss-treeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"

@atyourservice

Probably the only song I could bear in .... perpetuity

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